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"Conditions are never so bad but what they can be worse. The utmost care must be exercised to prevent danger from disease at this flood time.
The Health Department has issued a warning about water. All water must be boiled for at least ten minutes. Bringing the water to a boil does not kill all germs - a ten minute boiling is necessary.
As a safety precaution this office would suggest that the water from every well and water service be given this treatment until such time as the water from that source has been tested and passed by the Ontario Department of Health."

"Personal disability adding to the confusion of getting copy written for this week's newspaper, in which it is desirable that as much of the March flooding disaster be recorded as possible, a report of some of the plans as reported in the Globe and Mail are being copied. ..."

Description : Naunheimer, and to Zima, who donated approximately 1 acre of land to be added to the property, for lawn bowling, bocce ball and similar activities. Both Naunheimer and Zima received standing ovations.
There was also praise for Sylvia Luxton, who advocated for a seniors' leisure centre; for Steering Committee members who helped plan and organize; the new Bradford West Gwillimbury Seniors' Association; Bradford West Gwillimbury Parks & Recreation; and members of Council.
Luxton noted that in the 6 years since she had retired, "I have discovered that we have some of the most generous, hard-working volunteers."
Among the donation - a large screen television set from Shoppers Drug Mart, a Billiard table from Jamie Vins of Vins Plastics, an organ from the Newmarket Seniors Meeting Place, and 100 packs of playing cars, donated by Casino Rama.
The Scottish Evening, organized by Sandra Hudson on April 3rd, raised $1500 for the operations of the new Leisure Centre, which will be "run by seniors, for seniors."
"We have to take one step at a time. This place will grow and develop into the kind of place you want it to be," Luxton said. "You are the people who have built Bradford and put it together, and we felt you deserve it."
In addition to Mayor and Council, invited guests included MP Aileen Carroll, who described the sense of celebration that came with "accomplishing vision, accomplishing dreams but first you have to dare to dream," and MPP Joe Tascona.

Train wreck of April 14, 1928. The CNR train crashed just past the Bradford station as it was heading southbound across the river. Engineer J.W Brooks died from this crash, and was found in his seat when the wreck was recovered. He died from the force and circumstances of the derailment. There was no known cause of the derailment.

Train wreck of April 14, 1928. The CNR train crashed just past the Bradford station as it was heading southbound across the river. Engineer J.W Brooks died from this crash, and was found in his seat when the wreck was recovered. He died from the force and circumstances of the derailment. There was no known cause of the derailment.

A train wreck occurred on the Grand Trunk Railway on July 15, 1908 between Bradford and Gilford.

"Serious smashup on the G.T. R. North of Bradford - Engineer, Fireman and Express Messenger Badly Injured"

Relates to the Grand Trunk Railway derailment on July 15, 1908.

BRADFORD - Life-long Bradford resident and lawyer C.T.S. "Charlie" Evans last week shed further light on the history of the old convent on Barrie St.

The convent it currently the object of a legal tussle over ownership between the town and the contractor Fred Picavet.

Mr. Evans said he recalls being told by Kate Stevenson, the daughter of 19th century Bradford lawyer John MacLean Stevenson, that her father constructed the house based on plans of a Scots castle.

A CASTLE
"I recall her telling me that at one time he had gone to Scotland and had come back with plans of a castle and that he had this house built according to that plan," Mr. Evans said.

According to his personal records, Mr. Evans noted that Mr. Stevenson had been a Master of the Masonic Lodge in Bradford in 1877, a post usually held by older men.

"So hazarding a guess I would have to say that that house would be 150 years old," he surmised.

FIRST WAR
He said that the Lukes family, who owned the Bradford flour mill in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, likely moved into the house around the beginning of the First World War.

"Dick Crake bought the Lukes' house (where the Anzil Plaza now stands) around that time and the Lukes moved into what everyone now knows as the old convent."

Mr. Evans said a check could be made in the registry office in Barrie to determine when the property was originally purchased by Mr. Stevenson.

"Masons, carpenters and painters have been for some time and are still at work at Algonquin Lodge, and "vaster than has been" are the improvements that are being made. This property was lately purchased from the Estate of the late Rev. E.R. Young by Mr. samuel Lukes, who contemplates making many changes to this already handsome structure, besides installing a hot water heating system, sceptic tank, etc."

"Whatever becomes of this grand old lady, her colourful history will not be soon forgotten.

When the Recreation Facilities Committee was formed consisting of Chairperson Ann Currie, Jim Culbert, Steve Boland, Ellen MacKenzey, Bill Germayne and Sharon Sinclair, Director of Parks and Recreation, one of their first commitments was to find the "ideal" location to house the new Recreation and Cultural Complex. After a considerable amount of investigative work and discussion by this Committee, the favorite choice was the old convent.

While the convent certainly fits the "centralized" location criteria, an added attraction is the history which surrounds this 112-year old structure.

In 1876, John MacLean Stevenson built this masterpiece (named Masonic Lodge) and lived in it a short 10 months before selling it to the Robert Bingham family. This family stay was a little longer (16 years) before it, once again, changed hands. In 1893, James Boddy became the proud owner and renamed the house "Fairview". He resided there until 1903 when the property was purchased by Rev. Egerton Ryerson Young (noted missionary and publisher) who again renamed the house this time she was labeled "Algonquin Lodge". Upon the death of Rev. Young in 1910, his family sold the house to Sam Lukes who ran the Bradford Flour Mill. Lukes pet name for the home was "Luxalean". The house stayed in the Lukes family until Gilbert Lukes sold it in 1949. At the time of this sale, the plot of land was divided in two; on the plot south of the house was built St. Mary's Catholic School. The house was occupied by a group of teaching nuns of the Ursuline Order of the Diocese of London in Ontario.

In 1969, John and Maria Moniz bought the stately mansion and turned it into an apartment house. Contrary to the zoning by-laws, Town Council closed their eyes and allowed this grand home to be a multiple family dwelling for 12 years.

From the moment John Moniz' sale was accepted by Fred Picavet's cash offer, which in turn, nullified the offer made by the Town's agent, the convent had been cloaked in a shroud of controversy.

No sooner had the new deed owners, Fred and Betty Lou Picavet begun the extensive renovation work to the upstairs wings, than Bradford town council issued a "stop work order" and filed a Lis Pendents with the County Courts in Barrie (Feb. 26, 1981). This order was subsequently honoured by the County Court Office which necessitated an immediate halt on the renovation work by Picavet. While workmanship was in "pending", taxes continued to be paid by the owner (Picavet).

It wasn't until 1987 when an out-of-court settlement was reached between Fred Picavet and the Town that the convent became the legal property of the town of Bradford.

While the "legal hagglings" were underway, the old convent sat empty for five consecutive winters. Pampering can oft times help to slow down the natural aging process. Unfortunately, pampering the convent during that turbulent time was not a top priority item; henceforth, the building was vandalized on a fairly regular basis.

For someone like Jim Culbert, "the furniture doctor", it was nothing less than a mortal sin that such a fine building should have been so readily accessible to vandals. At the time Jim, personally, approached Town Council and Pat Storey to see if the building could be boarded up to discourage further destruction. He was basically told that the Safety Standards Bylaw which was in place to deal with this situation was unable to be looked after due to the lack of a by-law enforcement officer.

Incensed by that line of reasoning, Jim decided to "go to bat" for the convent. Through public awareness and letters to various newspapers, the convent was eventually boarded up which helped to minimize the continued vandalism.

With the endorsement of the Master Plan Recreation Study and the Facilities Committee, to renovate a part of the convent for the new Recreation and Cultural Complex, Jim Culbert is, once again, appealing to the town's people to "get on board" with regard to bringing this matter to the forefront. The decision on the fate of the convent has "gone on far too long" in Culbert's opinion. "Let's get it resolved one way or the other, either tear it down or renovate it and make it into a beautiful piece of property."

As Jim recalls, "A year ago Town Council promised a public meeting to discuss the convent issue which was never carried out. Hopefully, the newly-elected Council will stick to their electoral views on this issue."

A building with such Italianate design is rare in today's society. By restoring it, a two-fold purpose will be served; firstly, it will provide a complex to house programs such as the arts, drama, brownies, cubs, moms and tots etc. Secondly, and ideally, a room in the old wing of the house will be set aside for a "museum" of sorts to provide past history on the convent and Bradford itself".

IF RESTORED, this spectacular mansion will serve as a memorial to the previous owners."